Epilogue: “modern times”

Summary

In his 1936 film modern times, charlie chaplin traces the picaresque adventures of his Little Tramp, out of work after his job at a widget factory proves too much for his nerves. In the hilarious opening scene, we see the Little Tramp working on the assembly line, adjusting sprockets with a wrench in each hand. The rhythms of sprocket adjustment have so taken over his own natural rhythms, however, that, when he goes to take a break, he finds he cannot walk straight and moves in a jerky manner, adjusting imaginary sprockets in the air. Back on the assembly line, the Little Tramp is distracted by the company secretary when she bends over to tie her shoe. Thinking the buttons on her skirt are sprockets to be adjusted, he accosts her, chasing her through the factory before wandering out into the street. As a buxom woman with well-placed buttons on her dress walks down the sidewalk, the Little Tramp moves toward her, threatening to adjust her sprockets, before a police officer intercepts him and hauls him away. Several months later, the Little Tramp is released from a mental hospital with the advice to avoid excitement and overstimulation. Apparently, we are led to infer, the Little Tramp suffers from a neurasthenic condition brought on by modern times.

Clearly, the rhythms of industry have so recalibrated his body's natural rhythms that the Little Tramp is unable to function normally in the world.